Westminster leaders resolve issue to produce new budget

Westminster has a new budget in place for the new government year that beginin seven days. The budget ordinance passed last night, although two councilmen objected to what Mayor Rick McCormick described as a $10 thousand administrative package for Jeff Lord, who will start his second year as city administrator. Councilmen Doug Williams and Yousef Mefleh objected. But their sentiments were in the minority. After last night’s meeting, Mayor Pro-tem Bill Brockington issued this statement: “We all agreed that Jeff Lord’s performance, during this past year, has exceeded our expectations and that a monetary bonus of some sort would be appropriate. He has acquired, for the city, several million dollars in grants that allows us to proceed with waterline and sewer repairs and a sidewalk expansion project. During the budget review, I suggested a $10,000 bonus. Jeff said that he would prefer a car and cell phone allowance instead. The amount of those two items combined amounted to $10,200 so I approved including those items in the budget. He was concerned that it would appear that he initiated this change and I told him I would speak up on his behalf….”